The municipality of Makkah in Saudi Arabia has completed its preparations for this year's Hajj season as more flights carrying pilgrims land in the kingdom for the annual pilgrimage.
Hajj officials told The National that all “preparations have been made, trainings have been completed, with quality checks in place, and all services have been implemented to serve” the pilgrims.
Emergency units and support teams will be available 24 hours a day for Hajj pilgrims.
The units will be equipped with highly qualified and trained staff, as well as high-tech equipment to deal with emergency situations such as fire or heavy rain.
All resources will be employed in co-operation with government entities, security forces and volunteers.
According to a municipality representative, 22,000 people have been recruited this year to implement Hajj plans and procedures.
Food and water checks
Hajj season is due to begin on June 26, with more than two million pilgrims expected to partake in the holy pilgrimage. Ensuring sanitised food and drink options is of prime importance during the hot summer month.
“In the area of licensing, compliance, and monitoring of food shops, the municipality has set up teams and committees to monitor markets, food shops, restaurants” with round-the-clock checks, to ensure the safety of foods, an official spokesman for the municipality said.
Modern mobile laboratories with high-tech equipment will analyse food and water samples, issue test results quickly, conduct laboratory analysis of all food samples and confiscate damaged materials.
“Food hygiene and freshness are key priorities for us in Mina,” Faisal Gazwani, a Hajj operator, told The National.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (Mewa) on Monday announced that it is implementing a plan to ensure that demand for livestock in the local market is met during Hajj.
Mewa allowed the import of about 333,000 sheep and 10,000 camels between May 21 and 28.
Muslims the world over celebrate the first day of Eid Al Adha with an animal sacrifice.
This act honours the Prophet Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son for God.
This is how the Adha sacrifices get prepared
Al Zamazima Company has also launched the Zamzam electronic platform to deliver Zamzam water bottles to pilgrims' accommodation.
Rayan Zamzami, deputy general supervisor, said that the Zamzam platform will contain a database of all pilgrims.
Millions of pilgrims visit the Zamzam well each year while performing Hajj or Umrah.
Pilgrims must register on the platform and upon delivery a confirmation message will be received.
